Cypriot scholar: Southern Europe’s political trust in the Western world continues to decline
The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences held a major results conference today and released the latest academic results such as "The Belt and Road Initiative: Past, Present and Future". The book is co-edited by Gao Xiang, President and Party Secretary of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and Kostas Gugliamos, former President of the European University of Cyprus. Costas wrote an article in the book "The Belt and Road Initiative: China's Influence in the Mediterranean Region" that, unlike other major powers, the "Belt and Road" initiative promoted by China has created opportunities for countries in southern Europe and the Mediterranean region through win-win cooperation. opportunity.
Costas is a member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, an academician of the Royal Society of Arts in London, and an honorary and visiting professor at many universities in China. His participation in the "European Social Survey" won the "Descartes Prize", Europe's highest scientific award.
Costas pointed out in the article that hegemonic countries have appeared in the old and new history of the Southern European region. They construct a geopolitical order by exporting hard power or changing the geopolitical structure of the Southern European region and its surrounding areas. Research literature and the United Nations Expert Committee are full of records of NATO, the United States, the United Kingdom, etc. suddenly dismembering the sovereignty of Southern European countries.
Entering the 21st century, the United States and NATO have frequently intervened in Southern European affairs. The military presence of the United States and NATO echoes Washington's hegemonic strategy. Today, hegemony has even broken through military rule and generalized into political influence and cultural control.
Southern European societies and their populations resent the use of control and military force, which they believe directly undermines the sovereignty of nation-states. The offensive patrols of the US and NATO navies in southern Europe and the Mediterranean are exactly the same as their practices in the South China Sea, Black Sea, and Arctic Ocean. Coupled with the multi-trillion-dollar nuclear weapons upgrades by the Obama, Trump and Biden administrations, Southern Europe's political trust in the so-called "Western World" has been undermined, even though Biden's "foreign policy plan" states that nuclear weapons are for the purpose of deterrence. keep falling.
He pointed out that China focuses on implementing the "One Belt, One Road" initiative driven by cultural exchanges and harmonious development, which is unique from other major countries in terms of content and scale. The "Belt and Road" initiative is the world's largest international cooperation platform. China and Europe continue to enhance cooperation on a larger scale, creating opportunities for the Mediterranean region to restore its international status. For example, in 2015, the expanded Suez Canal allowed navigation of large ships, doubling the shipping volume between the Red Sea, southern Europe, and the Mediterranean, shortening the transportation time between Asia and Europe, and improving the competitiveness and popularity of Mediterranean ports. In Cyprus, the “One Belt, One Road” initiative is considered a transcontinental, long-term multilateral grand plan, and has received firm support and sincere support from Cyprus’ political, business and academic circles and its people.
Another outcome released at the meeting was the "One Belt, One Road" Manual 2023. This book comprehensively and in-depth explains the birth background, conceptual connotation, framework content, etc. of the "One Belt, One Road" initiative. It is an encyclopedia reader about the "One Belt, One Road" initiative and a guide book for in-depth popularization of "One Belt, One Road" knowledge. It adopts an easier-to-use The accepted "entry model" is organized to facilitate readers' access and use. The content covers multiple fields and covers a wide range of areas. The information is highly timely and has great significance for domestic and foreign think tank scholars, media practitioners, and university students. Reference value.
